Going with my fiancé puts me squarely outside the dateless wonder category, but I am nevertheless thrilled about attending this year.posted by Saellys at 6:46 PM on May 28, 2007

CANT WAIT!

after years of being a visitor, this is my first year as a professional. im a little scared, but still. YAY!

truly, you cannot understand until you experience it.posted by fillsthepews at 8:14 PM on May 28, 2007

also, man. that is one complete guide. and that coming from a san diego native.posted by fillsthepews at 8:16 PM on May 28, 2007

You know, as a huge comics nerd, I hate that this guy lists the second most important reason to go as, "film connections." But that's just me (and Scott McCloud probably)posted by ScotchLynx at 8:42 PM on May 28, 2007

I realize it was a different shindig than the FPP'd one, but the "rest of you dateless wonders" reference reminded me of this.

I'll be there this year as a professional again, but only on Saturday and maybe Sunday to schmooze and hand out my new portfolio to try to get some painted comic cover, storyboard and concept illustration work. I won't be doing caricatures like I did the last two years, because I wind up spending twice what I make.

ScotchLynx, one of the things I'm really unhappy about with Comic Con is that it's really turned into Movie Con. There are far more film people (both industry and fans) there now than comics people. I see more Hollywood people there than I see in Hollywood - and I live and work in the Hollywood "biz," pretty much.

I mean, I'm all for yay, having 100,000 people there, but the majority of them now seem to be there to get autographs from Sarah Michelle Gellar and Toby Maguire - or to line up to buy "Con Only" custom trading cards and action figures for which people have been getting into fistfights - and not to come around and find interesting comics you can't get anywhere else.

Used to be a small indie pub could make a nice profit and expand its mailing and contact list at San Diego. Now it's practically impossible, especially with the insane boost in hotel prices. This year the "Con Special" hotels all sold out within about 2 hours of the rooms coming available. Hell, even Stan Sakai wasn't able to get a room the usual way, and had to work out some jury-rigged arrangement!

I used to love SD but it's just grown into a monster that won't return what I've been putting into it, so I'm going to try working it from a different angle this year. Hopefully it will be more enjoyable than last year, which was grueling for me...

And I'm not dateless. I have a wonderful girlfriend! :)

Spurgeon's all right by me, I like him, his attitude his writing. A true comics lover and pundit, with broader media horizons than most comic nuts. I think he's a mefite maybe, IIRC?posted by zoogleplex at 11:15 PM on May 28, 2007

I've gone to this con twice: once way the hell back in...'81? Whatever year the movie Heavy Metal was released. This was also a time before Dave Sim became a dangerous creep. Back then, it was in some big old hotel. Then I went again last year. HUGE DIFFERENCE. Many, many more people, and a larger emphasis on non-industry celebrity guests and vendors, as the con attempts to glom onto crossover fans from the film, gaming, and SF worlds.

I feel there are far too many people for the current size of the Great Hall of Product. Too much pushing and shoving or getting trapped at hopelessly clogged intersections or patiently waiting at a popular table where people are stacked five deep. Note: I know you love your kids, people, but PLEASE leave them at home. Your frickin' stroller takes up a lot of room and blocks traffic horribly.

But hey, I bagged some of the Supergirl art from Michael Turner and some from the Smax miniseries, so I was pleased.posted by Midnight Creeper at 9:42 AM on May 29, 2007

zoogleplex - You might want to checkout small cons. The Emarald City comcis con over in seattle has a really nice feel to it, and you actually get to talk to people who make comics in a reasonably intelligent and unhurried way.posted by Artw at 10:15 AM on May 29, 2007

Personally I prefer the cons back in the UK, where I was perfecting the art of remaining in the bar for the entire convention.posted by Artw at 10:23 AM on May 29, 2007

I know a lot of people go to see the movie previews/famous actors etc. but I'm stoked to see Ray Bradbury, Warren Ellis, Neil Gaiman, J. Michael Straczynski, and Brian Wood all in one place.posted by nerdcore at 12:34 PM on May 29, 2007

Artw, I'm planning on doing the next Emerald City con, so I'll see ya there. I have some friends I can stay with up in Seattle so I won't have to pay for hotel, which will be much better financially and more relaxing. I'm just bummed I can't make PAX this year!

I did APE Con for the first time back in April, but I got my table late and wound up way back in the corner. It was fun and we met some cool people but sales were very slow and we lost money; we weren't the only ones either. Seemed like there were few financial winners at that show this year, which is contrary to reports I've had of previous years. I may try again next year but I'm going to have to adjust somehow if I want it to be financially successful.

I'll be at Wizard World Texas this year with a buddy o' mine who's just putting out his first mass-market TPB. Was there 3 years ago with him and we both had a total blast and made great sales, so I'm looking forward to that.

It's kind of a tough row to hoe to do cons and make them profitable, tho I'd had good luck with San Diego in the past. It's just that the last 2 years, it's been like pulling teeth to get people to actually stop and look at your booth, they're all running somewhere to see something else. It used to be that Saturday was the best sales day even for indies and small press; the last couple years it's been Wednesday Preview Night and Thursday.

I know a lot of people that buy a booth every year and lose $1000, $2000, sometimes more just to be at San Diego - IMO that's one of the problems with the comics biz, a lot of the people on the small side of the biz aren't focused on trying to actually make a profit out of what they're doing. I understand the love of the medium, but when you're keeping yourselves impoverished "hanging in there," maybe it's time to try some new approaches...

That's why after spending more than twice what I made two years in a row, I'm changing my approach to SD; I'm gonna try to make connections, network and get some paying side work.
"Personally I prefer the cons back in the UK, where I was perfecting the art of remaining in the bar for the entire convention."

Heh, you can do that at conventions here too! APE had a bar set up inside the convention hall, that was great!posted by zoogleplex at 1:23 PM on May 29, 2007

zoogleplex - well if either of us remembers lets aim for having a pint at the Seattle ocn next year.posted by Artw at 11:02 AM on May 30, 2007

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